Blocked in BIOS when booting with a MXI-3 connected to CompactPCI crate

[ec74]

I have implemented a MXI-3 interface (PXI-PCI8335) in my XP machine and it works fine with a PXI-1000 crate equipped with different CompactPCI and PXI boards from different manufacturers.

If I try to install the PXI-8335 board within a 22 slots CompactPCI crate (I have to evaluate a 6U CompactPCI board), my PC doesn't boot anymore. It blocks in the beginning of its BIOS (looks like a conflict on the PCI bus with the Video interface as the display is not turn ON). If I disconnect the MXI-3 optical fibre, the boot process continues correctly.

Is there any limitation on the number of PCI slots that can be controlled through the MXI-3 interface?

[Dustin_W]

MXI-3 should only be used in a 5V chassis. Is the 22 slot CompactPCI crate you are using a 3.3V?

There are two reasons the PXI-MXI-3 should not be used in a 3.3V chassis. The first is that the PXI-MXI-3 draws a large amount of current (about 1A) from the 5V supply. In a 3.3V cPCI chassis, there is no requirement on the amount of power supplied to the 5V lines. PXI does have a requirement on power to the 5V lines and is sufficient for the PXI-MXI-3. The next problem is that the PXI-MXI-3 drives the address and data lines to 5V. Any cards in the system which are not 5V tolerant would likely be damaged.

An alternative is to use MXI-4 which supports both 3.3V and 5V.

I hope this helps. If you are in fact using a 5V chassis, is the chassis completely empty when
it freezes the computer? This would help narrow down the problem as well.

Dustin W.

[Redzouz]

Hi,

i had the same issue. I fix it by installing MXI-Express BIOS Compatibility Software 1.4.1 and set the PCIE card on Mode 1

Read the Readme file for more details before installing the software.

http://download.ni.com/support/softlib//PXI/MXIe%20Compatibility%20Software/1.4.1/readme.html

Regards,